A youth sports blog written by Bob Cook. He's contributed to NBCSports.com, or MSNBC.com, if you prefer. He’s delivered sports commentaries for All Things Considered. For three years he wrote the weekly “Kick Out the Sports!” column for Flak Magazine.
Most importantly for this blog, Bob is a father of four who is in the throes of being a sports parent, a youth coach and a youth sports economy stimulator in an inner-ring suburb of Chicago. He reserves the right to change names to protect the innocent and the extremely, extremely guilty.
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Calling Students 'Boy Lovers' Who Need To 'Grow a Pair' Gets High School Coach Suspended

If you’re a high school coach, or authority figure of any kind, and you’re trying to boost school spirit, there are many ways to go about it. Here’s a hint: don’t go about it like Chet Moffett at Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pa. His was the most misguided attempt at firing up youngsters since a 6- and 7-year-old girls’ soccer coach declared his team the “Green Death” and sarcastically informed their parents that “losing is for losers.”

Under the title “winter sports briefing,” Moffett, a cross country and track coach and counselor at the all-boys Catholic school, sent the following email to students on Dec. 15, two days following a basketball loss to rival General McLane, according to the Erie Times-News.

Gentlemen –

I wanted to drop you all a line and give you my thoughts on Tuesday’s basketball game at general mcLame. I have been a coach here at Prep since 1998; so I have witnessed my share of close games (wins and losses), and I am fine with that. What I am not ok with is the fact that during the game, the GM student body out did us! It pains me to say that, but it’s true. I was perplexed about this during the game, because I did notice that we had our usual cast that have showed incredible school spirit in the past; then after the game, I counted 36 (and I’m sure I missed a few) Prep students that chose not to sit in the cheering section. Gentlemen — that is unacceptable!!

I asked one student that did not sit in the cheering section and his reply was, “I wanted to sit with my girlfriend”. My reply was simple, “If she made or wanted you sit with her, then she is a high maintenance, selfish pig and you should dump her now and if you wanted to sit with her and ignore your brethren on the floor, then join [a former Prep student who since has transferred] at mercyworst!” In other words there is no excuse! Another student told me that he wanted to sit with his parents. My reply, “Cut the umbilical cord and grow a pair!” In other words there is no excuse! Another kid told me that he just wanted to “hang out with his friends”. I had no reply; I have no patience for boy lovers! Guys — there are no excuses for not cheering for your school!

Understand guys — we set the standard with our cheering section! We were named the best fans in the state by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette! That’s 150 miles away! Every news crew in this town wants to cover our games because of our cheering section! The 36 plus that didn’t cheer for their school (and you know who you are) should be ashamed of themselves! You have chosen to be a part of a Brotherhood that no other school will ever understand! Your classmates make sacrifices in blood, sweat, tears to represent this school — show your support!

Every game we go to our goal should be to make the opposing team, their family and their coaches as uncomfortable as possible! I hold the entire school accountable! Never should a bunch of mayonnaise sandwich eating, sister loving, trailer park dwelling clowns at general mclane ever chant “we can’t hear you” to Cathedral Prep! Let’s show our support to all winter sports (basketball, hockey, swimming and wrestling) and do it the Cathedral Prep way!

My favorite part is “have a wonderful holiday.” It’s a salutation of sweetness that shows Coach Moffett, no matter if the students in his charge are umbilical-cord-sporting boy lovers, still wishes them well.

Alas, that sentiment wasn’t enough to keep Moffett out of trouble for his rant. (“mercyworst,” by the way, is a rival school better known by its real name, Mercyhurst Prep.) The school suspended him without pay for two weeks, and split what it would have paid him with General McLame and Mercyworst, er General McLane and Mercyhurst, for their student programs. Rev. Scott W. Jabo, Cathedral Prep’s president, told the Times-News that Moffett, at the school since 1998, twice offered to resign, but Cathedral Prep insisted on keeping him because of the good he’s done in the past, his lack of prior problems, and Moffett’s contrition for his words. However, Jabo, who forwarded to the newspaper Moffett’s original email and a subsequent email apologizing to students, expressed his own contrition for Moffett’s words, saying his attempt at firing up students showed an “incredible lack of judgement.”

Moffett did not comment on his suspension, but on Dec. 26 he did forward his own apologetic statement to the Times-News: “I would like to apologize to the communities of General McLane, Mercyhurst Prep, Cathedral Prep, and anyone else I offended by the e-mail I wrote to our students two weeks ago,” Moffett wrote. “It was a complete lapse of judgment on my part, and although it would seem otherwise, it does not represent who I strive to be as a person. I have disappointed my family and countless others, and for that I am embarrassed and truly sorry. I hold myself 100 percent accountable for my actions, and I intend to re-commit myself to living up to the standards and values that have guided me through the better part of my life.”

Before Christmas, the newspaper reported, Moffett sent a statement to the student body itself:

Gentlemen –

Last Thursday I sent you all an email about our cheering section at the basketball game. Since that time I have received lots of feedback, both positive and negative. [EDITOR'S NOTE: I would love to see the positive feedback.] I sat down and looked at the email again and I realized I was wrong. Guys — I sent the email mainly to inspire and motivate our student body. Although I did not attend Cathedral Prep, I am extremely committed to this school and what it stands for and it frustrates me when I see Men of Prep not reaching their potential. It was an attempt to reach you all; however, I have come to realize that my email was hurtful, distasteful and unprofessional.

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Coach Moffett’s apology was a desperate attempt to save his job – this is not acceptable and he should be fired!This was not sent as a lapse of judgment, only his true feelings and behavior. As a parent of students at Mercyhurst Prep, we sacrafice financially to send our children to a catholic school, to have another catholic school coach and lets not forget guidance counselor speak this way parents should demand termination.

This is a perfect example how coaches can flip out…things used to be worse. When I was in high school…Catholic all male…an assistant coach at a rival high school also Catholic all male, was known for firing up his players by taking the players helmet, grabbing it by the “birdcage” or face mask portion, and hitting the player on the side of the head with it. All as a method of toughening them up. Of course this is assault and this coach should have been sent to jail be we all thought he was tough, that’s all.

I love sports, and have played sports all my life. But this is high school! Not the Normandy invasion. For God’s sake!

Mr Cook – I have now viewed more of your blog posts of late and can see that you have really done a 180. When just a few years ago yelling, screaming and demeaning was a method of coaching you supported.

I would like to bring to your attention a post of yours from a few years ago that I believe you entitled “Parent’s, Coaches don;t have to take your shit anymore”

That post overviewed what you supported then…a self proclaimed “old school Coach” who openly admitted in interviews that yelling, screaming and demeaning was good Coaching and a Connecticut Judge agreed with that Coach – which you also supported.

As a single, ahead of the curve parent, I used texts from my children to verify the out of control behavior of that self proclaimed “old school Coach” and yes was concerned about my daughters health and the money I not only invested in her through sports and other activities that would support her to and through College but also did gear her towards scholarship award as a possible goal…a goal you and the “old school” Coach you supported condemned. (we did receive College monies Mr Cook both academic and athletic)

An investment you did not acknowledge then but in fact condemned. What changed…is it your experience in investing in your own children?

In 2007 that “old school Coach” you supported was arrested and convicted of reckless driving.

In 2008 that “old school Coach” you supported was arrested and convicted of a DUI.

In 2010 that “old school Coach” you supported was arrested and convicted of another DUI.

In 2012 that “old school Coach” that you supported is no longer coaching, to the best of my knowledge but is still a full time employed Teacher in a middle school.

I am one of those Mayonnaise sandwich eating, sister loving, trailer park, General Mc Lame people. Is this man going to hunt me down and euthanize me? I got a surprise for him when he arrives. Hope he likes lead!